You will learn
- Say what weather is.
- Name kinds of weather.
- Observe weather each day.
- Record weather with symbols.
Version 0.2 · expanded edition · built from cited public sources Content is based on the official frameworks and sources listed under Sources and standards. No official endorsement is claimed. Written in the style of common primary school assessments. No exam result is promised.
Student lesson
- Weather is what it is like outside.
- Weather can be sunny, rainy, cloudy or windy.
- Weather changes from day to day.
- We record weather with symbols.
Words to know
what the air and sky are like outside
to look carefully
to write or draw what we find
a simple picture that stands for something
1. Discover: The weather window
Every morning, Class One looks out of the window. Today the sky is grey and the trees are moving. Chike draws a cloud and a wind symbol on the weather chart. “Weather is what is happening outside,” says the teacher.
Think: What is the weather today?
2. Understand: Weather
Idea 1: What is weather?
Weather is what the air and sky are like outside. We talk about sun, clouds, rain and wind. We feel warm, cool, hot or cold.
Idea 2: Kinds of weather
Weather can be sunny, cloudy, rainy, windy, stormy or foggy. The weather is not the same every day. It changes from morning to afternoon too.
Idea 3: Observing and recording
We observe the weather by looking at the sky and feeling the air. We record it with symbols on a chart. Over a week we can see patterns.
3. Worked examples
Example 1 (I show you): Describe today
Grey sky, light wind.
- Cloudy.
- Windy.
- Not sunny.
Answer: Today is cloudy and windy.
Example 2 (We do it together): Draw a symbol
Rain.
- A cloud.
- Raindrops.
- That is the rain symbol.
Answer: A cloud with drops means rain.
Example 3 (You try): Compare days
Monday sunny; Tuesday rainy.
Show the steps and answer
- Monday: sun.
- Tuesday: rain.
- Weather changed.
Answer: The weather changed from sunny to rainy.
Did you know?
Weather scientists, called meteorologists, use satellites in space to watch the weather.
Why this matters
Knowing the weather helps us plan what to wear and do.
4. Explore: Weather chart
Record the weather each day for a week.
- Make a chart with the days of the week.
- Look outside each morning.
- Draw the weather symbol.
- At the end of the week count each kind.
Think about it: what did you notice?
What did you notice? Weather changes from day to day.
5. Practise
Say it in a sentence
Use these starters when you talk about the lesson. Say them out loud.
- Weather is what it is like ___.
- Today is ___.
- A cloud means ___.
- We ___ the weather.
Guided practice
Question 1. What is weather?
What it is like outside.
Question 2. Name a kind of weather.
Sunny, rainy, cloudy or windy.
Question 3. What do we use to record weather?
Symbols.
Independent practice
Level 1: Start
- What is weather?
- Name a kind of weather.
- What do we use to record weather?
- Does weather change?
- Do we look at the Sun?
Level 2: Grow
- Why do we record weather?
- What is the symbol for rain?
- How do we observe weather?
Level 3: Stretch
- Make a five-day weather chart.
- Explain how weather can change in a day.
- Compare two days.
Answers are in the answer key below. Try first, then check.
6. Apply: Science in everyday life
What weather do you have in your area most of the year?
Show a sample answer
Hot, rainy or dry.
Another one. Tell a family member one thing from this lesson. Use the words you learned.
Show a sample answer
A clear sentence that uses at least one word from Words to know.
7. Common mistakes
Fix: It changes.
Fix: Never look at the Sun.
8. Lesson summary and revision card
- I can say what weather is.
- I can name kinds of weather.
- I can observe weather each day.
- I can record weather with symbols.
9. Check and master
Answer all 14 questions. You will see feedback after each one.
Your result appears here after you answer every question.
10. Key takeaways
- Weather is what it is like outside.
- Weather can be sunny, rainy, cloudy or windy.
- Weather changes from day to day.
- We record weather with symbols.
11. Next lesson
Next lesson: Sunny weather. Keep going with the next idea in this course.
Exam practice
These questions are written in the style of common school and international primary assessments. Try them on your own, without looking back. Then check your answers in the marking guide. The marks are shown in brackets.
- What is weather? [1 mark]
- Name three kinds of weather. [3 marks]
- How do we record weather? [2 marks]
- Why record weather every day? [2 marks]
- Describe today’s weather. [2 marks]
Total: 10 marks.
Marking guide and model answers
- What it is like outside [1]
- Any three [1 each]
- Symbols [1]; on a chart [1]
- See patterns [1]; plan [1]
- Sky [1]; air or wind [1]
Score guide: 9 to 10 = secure. 6 to 8 = nearly there, revise the parts you missed. Under 6 = work through the lesson again with a grown-up.
Printable worksheet
- What is weather?
- Name a kind of weather.
- What do we use to record weather?
- Does weather change?
- Do we look at the Sun?
- Why do we record weather?
- What is the symbol for rain?
- How do we observe weather?
- Make a five-day weather chart.
- Explain how weather can change in a day.
Homework
Record the weather for three days. Draw symbols and write one sentence each day.
Answer key and marking scheme
| Question | Expected response | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 1. What is weather? | What it is like outside. | 1 |
| 2. Name a kind of weather. | Sunny, rainy, cloudy or windy. | 1 |
| 3. What do we use to record weather? | Symbols. | 1 |
| 4. Does weather change? | Yes. | 1 |
| 5. Do we look at the Sun? | Never. | 1 |
| 6. Why do we record weather? | To see patterns. | 1 |
| 7. What is the symbol for rain? | A cloud with drops. | 1 |
| 8. How do we observe weather? | Look and feel. | 1 |
| 9. Make a five-day weather chart. | A completed chart. | 1 |
| 10. Explain how weather can change in a day. | Sunny morning, rainy afternoon. | 1 |
| Total | 10 |
Independent practice answers. Level 1: 1 What it is like outside.; 2 Sunny, rainy, cloudy or windy.; 3 Symbols.; 4 Yes.; 5 Never.. Level 2: 1 To see patterns.; 2 A cloud with drops.; 3 Look and feel.. Level 3: 1 A completed chart.; 2 Sunny morning, rainy afternoon.; 3 A comparison..
Quiz answers: 1 B, 2 C, 3 A, 4 B, 5 C, 6 A, 7 B, 8 C, 9 A, 10 B, 11 C, 12 A, Challenge 1 B, Challenge 2 C.
Mastery and remediation
| Objective | Bronze (Developing) | Silver (Proficient) | Gold (Advanced) |
|---|---|---|---|
| O1 Say what weather is | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O2 Name kinds of weather | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O3 Observe weather each day | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O4 Record weather with symbols | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
Courseversity badge thresholds (overall quiz score): Gold = 90–100%; Silver = 80–89.9%; Bronze = 70–79.9%. A badge is never a full record of progress.
If a learner struggles
- Find the misconception: “Weather is the same every day.” It changes.
- Explain another way: use real objects, pictures or actions first, then words.
- Show a simpler example: Draw a weather symbol for today.
- Guided practice: work through one example together and let the learner try the next one.
- Reassess: use the quiz again or the worksheet.
- Move on when the learner shows Silver-level evidence independently.
For parents and guardians
In this lesson your child learns to observe and record weather. You do not need to be an expert to help.
- Look at the sky each morning.
- Ask, “What symbol shows today?”
- Plan clothes for the weather.
- Ask “how do you know?” after each answer, and listen.
- Praise effort, not only right answers. Mistakes are how we learn.
- Ten to fifteen minutes a day is better than one long session.
Teacher package
1–5. Objectives, prerequisites, materials, preparation, duration
Lesson objectives. Learners will: say what weather is; name kinds of weather; observe weather each day; record weather with symbols.
Prerequisite knowledge. None. Learners should be able to look, listen and talk about what they notice.
Materials. Chart paper, crayons, weather symbols and a window. Low-resource options: use chalk or charcoal on a board or wall, drawings in the sand, and objects from the classroom instead of printed materials.
Preparation. Make a weather chart for Monday to Friday. Draw sample symbols.
Suggested duration. 45–60 minutes. It can be split into two shorter sessions.
6–9. Teaching procedure, explanation notes, guided and independent activities
Introduction (5 min). Ask, “What is the weather today?”
Explanation (10 min). Teach weather words and symbols.
Guided activity (10 min). Learners record the weather.
Independent activity (10 min). Learners compare days.
Assessment and reflection (5 min). Ask each learner to say one thing they learned and how they know it.
Key questions. What is the weather today? How can I show it?
Teacher explanation notes. Start with real objects and safe, hands-on observation. Then talk about what was seen, then draw and write. Always say “how do you know?”. Keep to the safety notes, and use local, safe materials.
10–12. Differentiation, formative assessment, common misconceptions
Support. Use real objects and pictures, short sentences and a partner. Let learners point, show or draw instead of writing. Extension. Ask learners to find a new example at home and explain how they know.
Formative assessment. Listen to learners read and explain, ask “how do you know?”, and check the independent work.
Misconceptions. “Weather is the same every day.” It changes.
13–15. Assessment questions, answer keys, marking scheme
Use the quiz, the 10-mark exam practice and the worksheet on this page. All answers and marking guides are in the answer sections above. Re-check every answer before use.
16–19. Remediation, enrichment, homework, teacher reflection
Remediation. Draw a weather symbol for today. Enrichment. Look for one new example near your home or school, draw it and explain it to someone. Homework. See above.
Teacher reflection. After teaching, record: which ideas learners understood; which misconceptions occurred; which activities worked; which learners need more practice; and what to improve next time.
Sources and standards
This lesson is based on the sources below, and no official endorsement is claimed. Reference starting points: Next Generation Science Standards, Cambridge Primary Science and the IB Primary Years Programme. Where a standard code is named, it points to the official framework.
Research used to shape this lesson. Courseversity Science curriculum, Grade 1 Unit 9, topic 1; Next Generation Science Standards, Earth’s place in the universe and Earth’s systems (weather and the sky); Cambridge Primary Science Stage 1, Earth and space; IB Primary Years Programme, sharing the planet. These sources informed the lesson.